Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-05
millionaire blair Examined.

COMMISSIONERS ANDERSON THRusTs POINTED CUES.
TlONs AT HIM ABOUT THE SIOUX CITY RAiLRoAD.
The New York Herald to-day says: Commits
sioner Z. Eilery Anderson, the only member pres
en took evidence In one OF the great side issues OF
the Pacific Railroad inquiry yesterday. Apart
from the fact that the gentleman examined was
John Blair, OF Blairsvilie, n. J the reported pos
SCISSOR Oh capital amounting TO about SIS 600 OO0,
the hearing wac important because IL IL generally
supposed That the witness knows very great deal
about railroads.
Ibid you construct the Sioux City and Pacific
Railroad?" asked Commissioner Anderson.
Il did. The company, l believe. was organized
In 1854, and We commenced 10 construct the road
in TO- was president OF the road from about that
time until III or ~"
who were me directors while you were presi-
"Morris x. Jesup, Mr. Schuchart. Platt Smith,
MI. Croker, oil Oswego, and others cannot re-
upon oein. questioned, remembered that JAS I.
Wilson, A. W. Hubbard, Cakes Ames and A. W.
johnson were also among the directors.
RAISING STOCK.
In connection with the stock OF the company,
Mr. Blair said that as president he opened the
books at Dubuque but failing TO receive many sub
scriptions. and not wishing TO continue the con-
structiOn OF the road without raising money 1n-
dependent OF that received from the Government,
he subscribed himself considerably, and believed
that he put Mr.. Ames down Tor O Thousand shares.
PIatt Smith, then president OF the dubuque ka1I-
road, also put himself down for some shares.
M.
but Mr. Blair added that he carried s., 1000 worth
OF stock for some years in Mr.. Smiths interest,
and finally lost the money. MIR. Blair did not
remember the Iowa Railroad Construction Conn
nany subscribing Tor 10000 shares but ne subse-
uuentiy admitted that he was president OF that
company when they subscribed Tor II, 600 shares.
The sum OF 81, 79l, 400 said the witness, PAID
in by subscription TO the Sioux City ana Pacific,
and later on 500, 600 more was sued for ard oo-
tanned from Mr.. Lambert. making about 81 So, 900
.'clean cash" paid into his hands land paid Gut In
the CONSTITUTIONAL
no ACCOUNTS KEPT BY Mr.. BLAIR.
The money, continued the witness, was not
paid to anybody's credit. and what was not used
was sent TO the treasurer In Boston, but he did
not know OF any bank ia which an account was
kept as 1t was spent lust as We went along" Re-
peated questions only drew from the witness IN
substance that no account, other than vouchers,
Was Aept OF the Large sums received and ex-
pended, and that the Boston treasurer, John n. $.
Williams, Is dead. Mr.. Blair said that he person.
ally did not keep any books and sent his vouchers
TO Nh. tlliams. who, he supposed, kept books.
The figures ne had referred 10 came from memo
randa he had at home, and, he added, a fire had
burned up the records kept at Cedar Rapids
The witness could not recoliect what payments
had been made 10 Contractors Douglas and
Brown, but said that they were 'all cash pay
ments." He had no recollection OF seeing the
had even no recollection OF the approximate
amount paid out 10 Douglas and Brown.
with whom was the contract OF 1867 nader"
asked the Commissioner.
~
'Did they take the contract In their own personal
busineSs7"
FEW MORE NAMES RECALLED
'.No for all the Sioux City Railroad stockholders
and every stOckholder got his share. The total
capital stock was about q, $4,000. ! had about
One-ffth OF the stock believe Cakes Ames and
Charles A. Lambert each had about the same;
Gideon Williams, John X. Elliott and William L.
Dodge were also stockholders William b. Ellison
was stOckhOlder 10 The extent Ol s, OO0 and had
acted as vice president OF the company" MI.
Blair also thought II possible that Perry T. smith
and Joseph II. Scranton were directors.
"Was De witt c. Blair, your son. stOckholdef?"
I'm not certain; think he was"
sIn what books were these accounts kept?'
81 can't say; the construction OF railroads Is
very different from any other business l had
vouchers and, so far as l am concerned they were
all the books kept"
Very little else was extracted from the witness.
except that the actual cost OF the road was
a, $40, TO according 10 his memoranda, ana that
he estimated that he paid Is cents actual cash nor
his bonds. =